[The Desolate Plain – Event Horizon of the Z+ Gate]
The ground beneath them groaned, vibrating with a frequency that made Techyon's teeth ache. The violet rift above pulsed like a dying star, casting long, distorted shadows across the black rock.
"We cannot enter yet," Yoru said, her eyes fixed on the shifting mana-currents of the gate. "We have to wait for the Arcons to arrive. Without their foundational stabilization, this mission is a suicide run. Even for us."
Cynthia nodded, her gaze never leaving the void. "She is absolutely right. By the way, how many hours do we have before this dungeon breaks? If the walls of that dimension collapse before we clear the core, Netland will be erased."
"A Z+ gate typically breaks seven hours after opening," Yoru replied, checking her status window's local clock. "The gate hasn't even fully stabilized yet. We still have a bit of time, but the pressure will only increase from here."
Captain Carod adjusted his heavy gauntlets, his armor venting coolant. "Wait... what about that S-Rank dungeon that appeared earlier? The one near the border?"
Cynthia let out a small, almost bored sigh. "That one? Every monster inside was far too weak. I was just trying to power up my core for this Z+ threat, but the dimension couldn't contain my heat. It simply... exploded."
Carod froze, his visor flaring. "You're saying you literally burned an entire dimension to ash... just by standing there?"
"Yes," Cynthia replied simply. "It was quite disappointing."
While the veterans discussed the fate of reality, Fraxy was still ignoring the gate. She was staring at Techyon, her lavender-pink eyes narrowing in that way that made him feel like he was being scanned by a high-powered X-ray.
"I'm telling you," Fraxy whispered, leaning in close enough that Techyon could smell the rose-petal scent from her bath. "I think I saw you somewhere. Not just a passing glance. Your facial structure, your mana-nodes... they're hauntingly familiar."
Techyon felt a cold sweat prickle at the back of his neck. The tension was suffocating. He couldn't let her figure it out—not here, not in front of Cynthia.
"Maybe... maybe we just met each other sometime in a crowd," Techyon said, his voice a bit too high-pitched. "We don't know, right? I've travelled a lot."
Fraxy didn't look convinced. She hummed a low, melodic tone, her eyes moving from Techyon toward Cynthia and then back again. "No... that's not it. It's much deeper than a crowd."
Fraxy didn't back down. Her lavender eyes were fixed on Techyon with a medical precision that made it impossible to look away. "Your name," she pressed, her voice dropping to a serious whisper. "Can you tell me your name?"
Techyon swallowed hard, his pulse racing. "My name... is Techyon."
"Your full name," Fraxy insisted. She wasn't just being curious; as a healer, she was reading the very rhythm of his soul.
Techyon froze. That's a problem, he thought frantically. If I say my full name—Techyon Light—Fraxy will connect the dots instantly. She'll know I'm Cynthia's brother. The bloodline of the Arcon of Hope isn't something you can just hide once the name is out.
A few feet away, Cynthia stiffened. The name "Techyon" had cut through her legendary focus like a white-hot blade.
Techyon... she thought, her golden-red eyes momentarily losing their fiery glow. My brother's name. She looked at the young man standing before Fraxy. He had the same defiant spark, the same restless energy. But then, she shook her head, her expression hardening into a mask of cold sorrow. No. It's just a coincidence. Millions of people inhabit the sectors; names repeat. I'm being foolish.
Deep in her heart, a wave of old, bitter guilt washed over her. I'm sorry, my little brother... I couldn't protect you that day. I'm sorry, Mother... Father... I couldn't keep my promise to keep the family together.
A single, crystalline tear threatened to track through the faint dust on her cheek. She blinked rapidly, turning her face away from the group.
"Cynthia?" Lapis asked, his Honoured Eyes catching the slight shimmer on her face. His voice was unusually soft. "Are you... crying?"
Cynthia snapped her head back toward the gate, the flames in her eyes reigniting with a fierce, defensive intensity. "No," she snapped, her voice as sharp as a spear. "I think something just got in my eye. The mana-pressure is kicking up dust. Focus on the rift, Lapis."
Techyon watched her, his heart breaking. He wanted to scream the truth, to tell her that her promise wasn't broken, but the violet roar of the Z+ Gate reminded him that now was not the time for reunions. Now was the time for survival.
"Tell me fast!" Fraxy insisted, her voice dropping to a demanding whisper. She leaned in even further, her lavender eyes searching Techyon's face for any sign of a lie. The scent of her rose-petal bath was overwhelming now, and Techyon was backed up against the invisible pressure of the gate.
"Everyone look here!" Nefa chirped, pointing a finger with a mischievous grin. "I think they're about to kiss! Is this a battlefield or a romance novel?"
Techyon's face turned bright red, but before he could stammer out an excuse, the air between him and Fraxy began to distort.
"Space Warping: Infinite Horizon," Lapis muttered coolly.
Fraxy frowned, trying to take one more step toward Techyon, but she suddenly realized something was very wrong. No matter how much she moved her legs, Techyon wasn't getting any closer. It was as if the two feet of air between them had been stretched into a thousand miles. She was moving forward, but the distance remained perfectly, maddeningly the same.
"What is this?" Fraxy asked, blinking in confusion as she looked at her feet.
"I created an infinite distance between both of you," Lapis explained, leaning against a jagged rock with his arms crossed. "You were invading his personal space, Saint. And we have a dungeon to worry about."
Suddenly, a high-pitched scream cut through the heavy mana-pressure of the Z+ Gate.
"TECHYON!!"
Techyon snapped his head upward, looking past the swirling violet rift. Diving through the clouds were two familiar figures, their mana signatures radiating excitement and relief.
It was Neweland and Alya!
Alya was waving her hand frantically as they descended, her voice echoing across the plain. "Techyon! We're here! We finally caught up!"
Techyon's heart soared. In a world of Z-Elites and Goddesses who felt like strangers, his team had finally arrived. But as he looked at Cynthia, who was still recovering from her moment of grief, he realized his life was about to get a whole lot more complicated.